Safety is an important issue in all of California's schools. The California Education Code mandates that all school staff receive training on the Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) to establish emergency response protocols, guidelines for school safety measures, and identification of potential risks. However, having a CSSP is just the first step to ensuring a safe learning environment for our students. Effective school safety planning requires regular reviews and evaluations to identify any gaps or weaknesses in the current plan and make necessary changes to improve safety measures. The goal is to create a safe and secure environment for all students to learn and grow. In light of this, I encourage you to learn more about your school's safety plan and emergency response protocols. Together, let's work towards ensuring that our schools are a safe and secure place for everyone.

Ralph Hernandez

alhambrateacherspresident@gmail.com

The CLB is a program established to allow unit members to potentially help each other. The intent of this program is to provide a way that unit members who have exhausted all their regular sick leave may apply for additional sick leave days from the bank for a catastrophic injury or illness.

The Google Form with the link to sign up for the CLB has been sent out via District mail. If you're a new ATA member or a current member wishing to join, you must contribute one (1) sick day to be enrolled. However, if you donated a day last year, you don't have to donate one this year to participate. In case you're not sure if you donated a day last year, you can contact Gabriela Mangas, our ATA secretary, at ataoffice3030@gmail.com. She'll be able to look up your name for you.

Also, just a heads up, if you end up donating a day again this year, even though you didn't need to, there's no need to worry. HR will be double-checking enrollment this year against last year's list before sharing it with Payroll.

HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGES

ATA, CSEA, and District staff have met to consider possible changes to our shared health benefits plans. This joint committee has identified some possible changes to the Blue Shield and Kaiser health care plans. They have also identified possible changes to our vision and dental plans. Possible medical insurance changes include an increase of copays for in-patient services and for prescription medications. The changes to the vision and dental plans are likely to result in no additional costs, but an increase in services and coverages.

The changes are being considered in reaction to significant expense increases over the last 8-10 years, and the H&W Committee recognizes that the plans' current structures are not sustainable.

As the joint committee progresses in its work, it's essential to remember that even the most substantial and costly changes to our health care plans will still ensure our benefits remain as good as, or better than, those offered by other school districts and organizations of similar size in our region.

In addition, all changes proposed by the joint committee will have to be negotiated with the District through negotiations and approved by our ATA representative council.

BLUE SHIELD REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS

If you have Blue Shield for health insurance and you suspect that a claim has been wrongly denied, please contact our Employee Benefits Specialist Angie Hererra (heredia_angie@ausd.us) at the District office.

Andrew Bitterolf

ATA Health Benefits Chair

andrew.bitterolf@gmail.com

Please speak with your representative if you have any concerns or issues at your site/workplace. It could be a problem others are facing too and might be quickly resolved. If it violates your contract, you can file a grievance. To learn more about the grievance process, click on this link.

The Grievance Team includes individuals skilled in problem-solving and trained in addressing grievances. They are here to help you. Give your representative and association the chance to assist you.

Grievance Team Members:

- Alana Acosta-Martin (Chair)

- Mailin Chan

- Ernie Chen

- Susie Young

It's important to be mindful when bringing personal items to our classroom or workspace, as there can be potential risks such as loss, vandalism, or damage. If these items are not approved for use at our sites, we might not be entitled to reimbursement if something happens to them. According to the guidelines outlined in Article XXII - Safety and Protection of Unit Members and Their Property, Reimbursements, and Crisis Provisions, we can only claim for such items if we have obtained permission from our immediate supervisor to use them for our duties.

To ensure protection for our personal property, we need to fill out a form provided by Risk Management and keep it on file with the district. For instance, if you bring an expensive laptop to school and it goes missing despite being secured, you can only file a claim if you have the necessary form on file before bringing it to the site.

Thus, it's crucial to carefully consider the necessity of bringing personal items to our site and to have the required documentation on file. Additionally, for valuable items, it's advisable to take them home instead of leaving them at the site to mitigate potential risks. Let's always be prudent when it comes to using personal property to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

All employees received a district email reminding them that all online training must be completed by Friday, September 20, 2024 at 5:00 pm.. This training is a requirement for employment. As is the case with your TB and credentialing renewal, you must complete all training sessions by the deadline, or you cannot work and will lose pay until you do so. Should you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with HR at (626) 943-3060.

I am pleased to announce that the CTA Board of Directors will award Incentive Grants for attendance at the following statewide conferences:

Issues Conference
Application Deadline: October 31, 2024
Location: Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, NV
Conference Date: January 17-19, 2025

Good Teaching Conference - North
Application Deadline: October 31, 2024
Location: Hyatt Regency, Burlingame, CA
Conference Date: January 31 - February 2, 2025

Good Teaching Conference - South
Application Deadline: January 6, 2025
Location: Hyatt Regency, Garden Grove, CA
Conference Date: March 14-16, 2025

Equity & Human Rights Conference
Application Deadline: January 6, 2025
Location: Northern CA
Conference Date: March 7-9, 2025

To apply for an incentive grant online visit www.CTA.org/Grants

BIPOC Grants – BIPOC members are defined as belonging to one of the following racial-ethnic groups: African American; American Indian/Alaska Native; Asian; Hispanic; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander or Multi-ethnic. These grants are offered to encourage minority leadership within the Association.

Small Chapter Incentive Grants will be awarded to small chapters with a unit size of 100 or fewer members. Unit size is defined as the number of persons who are represented for purposes of collective bargaining. The chapter membership may be less than the unit size.

New Member Grants will be awarded to applicants who are within their first 5 years of CTA membership.

To learn more about upcoming conferences visit www.CTA.org/Conferences

Should you have any questions regarding the online application process for the incentive grants, please contact the CTA Conference Coordination Center at Grants@CTA.org.

David B. Goldberg
CTA President

National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15! Hispanic and Latino communities have left an indelible mark on our history. At a time when extremist groups are working to whitewash our history and restrict our students’ freedoms to learn, in our union we’re committed to providing an accurate and honest education for every student. In California— home of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and the United Farmworkers—we know that Latino Heritage is Labor Heritage! Classroom resources, lessons and activities are available below.

September 9

- Grievance (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

September 10

- ATA Board of Directors (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

September 17

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

September 24

- ATA Rep Council (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

October 8

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

October 14

- Grievance (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

October 15

- ATA Board of Directors (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

October 22

- ATA Rep Council (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

October 29

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

The Alhambra Teachers Association (ATA) exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just equitable and democratic society.

Email: ataoffice3030@gmail.com
Website: www.alhambrateachers.org
Location: 3030 West Main Street, Alhambra, CA, USA
Phone: (626)289-1933
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlhambraTeachersAssociation/